Collapsible pallet bin

ABSTRACT

A COLLAPSIBLE PALLET IS PROVIDED FOR FORMING AN OPENTOPPED CONTAINER WITH A STANDARD PALLET. THE NEW PALLET BIN COMPRISES A PAIR OF SIDE SECTIONS AND A PAIR OF END SECTIONS WITH EACH OF THESE SECTIONS INCLUDING A SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR PANEL AND A SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR FRAME SECURED TO THE OUTER SURFACE OF THE PANEL. HINGE MEANS ARE PROVIDED AT EACH END OF THE SECTIONS FOR RELEASABLY CONNECTING THE SIDE SECTIONS AND THE END SECTIONS OF THE ASSEMBLED PALLET BIN. THE ENDS OF THE FRAME ARE OFFSET IN A DOWNWARD DIRECTION TO FORM NOTCHES AT THE UPPER CORNERS OF THE FRAME AND DOWNWARDLY PROJECTING STUDS AT THE LOWER CORNERS OF THE FRAME.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Rudolph B. Rustin, Jr.

' Smithfield, N.C. [2l] Appl. No. 838,556 [22] Filed July 2,1969 [45] Patented June 28, 1971 [73] Assignee Overton Company Kenly, N.C.

[541 coLLAPsniLE PALLET BIN 10 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. Cl. 217/48 [5l] 1nt.Cl B65d 9/12, B65d 9/22 [50] Field of Search 217/48, 16, l3,43 (A), 45, l2; 220/97 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,381,193 6/1921 Hockspeier 217/48 l,881,822 10/1932 McKelligon 2l7/48X 2,525,838 10/1950 Smith et al 217/16 FOREIGN PATENTS 719,974 l0/l965 Canada 217/13 Primary Examiner- Raphael H. Schwartz Attorney-Finnegan, Henderson and Farabow ABSTRACT: A collapsible pallet bin is provided for forming an open-topped container with a standard pallet. The new pallet bin comprises a pair of side sections and a pair of end sections with each of these sections including a substantially rectangular panel and a substantially rectangular frame secured to the outer surface of the panel. Hinge means are provided at each end of the sections for releasably connecting the side sections and the end sections of the assembled pallet bin. The ends of the frame are offset in a downward direction to form notches at the upper corners of the frame and downwardly projecting studs at the lower corners of the frame.

coLLAPslBLE PALLET iN This invention relates to a collapsible pallet bin, and more particularly to a pallet'bin which can be easily seated on a pallet base to form an open-topped container for shipping and storing articles, and which can be collapsed when not in use to save space.

Pallets which are liftable by a lift truck that is inserted within the pallet, have enjoyed widespread materials handling usage because they help reduce the time and cost of transporting many articles. It has been found that the utilization of pallets can be materially increased and that small articles can advantageously be transported on pallets if the pallets are provided with sidewalls that cooperate with the pallet to form an open-topped boxlike container, because small articles can be placed within such a container without danger ofv falling off the pallet during transport.

It has been found desirable that the pallet bin which forms the walls of such a container be detachable with respect to the pallet, and that the bin unit be collapsible so that it requires a minimum amount of storage space during periods of nonuse.

There has beenA a continuing search for easy to assemble, collapsible pallet-bins which can be secured to a pallet base to prevent inadvertent collapse and which provide a stable support for further layers of pallet bins.

It is therefore a principle object of this invention to provide an improved collapsible pallet bin which is stable, easy to assemble, lightweight, and inexpensive.

Another object of this invention is to provide a collapsible pallet bin which contains`wall sections that can be stacked on top of each other to form a multilayer structure.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pallet bin which is formed from interchangeable wall sections so that damage to one wall section of a pallet bin does not terminate the useful life of the other wall sections ofthat particular pallet bin.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention.

The invention may be described as a collapsible pallet bin formed by a pair of side sections including a substantially rectangular panel and a substantially rectangular frame secured to the outer surface of the panel. The length of the frame is slightly smaller than the length of the panel to provide hinge areas at each end of the panels. The height of the frame is substantially equal -to the height of the panel, with the ends of the frame being offset in a downward direction to provide notches at the upper corners of the frame and downwardly projecting studs at the lower corners of the frame. Hinge means are provided at each of the hinge areas for releasably connecting the side sections and the end sections of the assembled pallet bin.

Preferably, because the panel and frame construction of the new pallet bin permits use of a thin panel, an internal bearing cleat is attached at the lower end of the inside face of the end sections to increase the bearing surface of the pallet bin on the pallet.

The invention consists in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements, combinations, and improvements shown and described. The accompanying drawings which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this invention, illustrate certain embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

Ofthe drawings:

FIG. I is a perspective view of a presently preferred embodiment of the assembled pallet bin of this invention, illustrated in position on a standard pallet;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the pallet bin of FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is an end elevation of the pallet bin of FIG. l;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a multilayer pallet bin constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. Sis a section view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view illustrating a hinge assembly ofthe pallet bin of FIG. l`

Referring now to FIGS. 1 3, it may be seen that a collapsible pallet bin constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention sits on a standard pallet base 8 which is shown in phantom in FIG. l. The collapsible pallet bin includes a pair of side sections, generally 10 and l2, and a pair of end sections, generally 14 and 16. Hinge means, described below, connect the ends ofeach side section with the end sections.

ln accordance with the invention, the side sections and the end sections each include a substantially rectangular panel and a substantially rectangular frame secured to the outer surface of the panel. This construction provides a strong, lightweight structure which can be assembled easily by workers without extensive physical exertion.

As here embodied, side sections l0 and l2 are formed by rectangular panels 20 and frames, generally 22, and end sections l4 and 16 are formed by rectangular panels 24 and frames, generally 26. The length of panels 20 is slightly less than the length of the pallet 8 and the length of panels 24 is desirably selected to be slightly less than the width of the pallet.

As seen in FIG. 2, frame 22 includes a top cleat 30, side cleats 32 and 34, and a bottom cleat 36. The top and bottom cleats are shorter than the length of panel 20 to provide hinge areas 40 at the ends of panel 20 on its outer surface. The height of frame 22 is substantially the height of panel 2l) with the ends of the frames being offset in a downward direction to provide notches 42 at the upper corners of frame 22 and downwardly projecting studs 44 at the bottom corners of frame 22.

In use, a series of the bins may be stacked on top of each other to form a multilayer bin. Because the length of side cleats 32 and 34 corresponds to the height of panels l0 and l2, studs 44 of the top bin can be seated in notches 42 of the next lower bin to interlock the layers of the multilayer bink formed of side and end sections stacked on top of each other. Also, studs 44 on the lowest tier of side sections abut the outer side edges of pallet 8 and help provide a stable upright bin.

As seen in FIG. 2, the lower inside edge of each stud 44 is tapered so that the stud has a reduced cross section at its bottom surface. The taper permits the stud to be easily inserted into the notches of the sections of the lower tiers in a multiple level pallet bin.

As seen in FIGS. l and 3, frames 26 on end sections l4 and 16 each comprise a top cleat 50, side cleats 52 and 54, and a bottom cleat 56, disposed in the same fashion as the cleats on side sections l0 and l2 to form hinge areas 58, notches 60 and studs 62 which perform similar functions to those described above for their counterparts on the side sections.

As seen in FIGS. 1,3, and 5, end sections l4 and 16 each also include a bearing cleat 64 attached across the lower inside surface of panels 20. The bottom surface of bearing cleat 64 is positioned in the plane of the bottom surface of panels 24 to cooperate in transferring compressive forces from the bin to the pallet. Bearing cleats 64 are desirable when the panels of the side and end sections are made out of thin sheets of a relatively strong material such as plywood. Thin panels, in the absence of cleats 64, might not provide a sufficient amount of bearing area on a warped or physically damaged pallet to insure the desired degree of bin stability.

In accordance with the invention, hinge means are positioned at each of the hinge areas for releasably connecting the side sections and the end sections of the assembled pallet bin. The hinge means are releasable so that the pallet bin can be disassembled and stored in a minimum amount of space, Also, the releasable hinge means permit easy loading of the bin. For example, a worker can disengage an end section from one side section and then pivot this end section about the hinge means connecting the end section with the other side section to open one side of the bin. Because the end wall section or sidewall section can be pivoted, horizon'tal loading ofa pallet having an assembled bin placed on the pallet is possible without removal or disassembly of the bin.

As here embodied, the hinge means include eight hinge assemblies 70 with two vertically spaced hinge assemblies positioned at each corner of the assembled pallet bin as seen in FIG. l. Each hinge assembly 70 as illustrated in FIG. 6 includes a first strap member 72 mounted on a hinge area of a side section and a second strap member 74 mounted on :i hinge area of one of the end sections, and a removable bin or bolt 76 which engages a strap member 72 and a strap member 74 in the assembled pallet bin. Strap members 72 and 74 are connected to the hinge areas by conventional fasteners such as screws.

An assembled two-layer pallet bin is illustrated in FIG. 4 in which studs 44 ofthe side sections of the top layer are seated in notches 42 of the side sections in the bottom layer with the top layer studs abutting the top surface of a side cleat, the end surface of a top cleat of a bottom layer frame, and also abutting the outer surface of the corresponding bottom layer panel. In similar fashion, studs 62 of the top layer end sections are seated in notches 60 of the bottom layer end sections. This arrangement of studs and notches provides an interlocking multilayer bin that is stable and easy to assemble. Also contributing to the stability ofthe multilayer bin is the abutting contact of the top surface of both the panel and frame of each lower section and the bottom surface of the panel and frame stacked thereon.

There are numerous methods of assembling the new pallet bin. A representative mode which may be followed by a single workman will now be described with reference to FIG. l. End section 14 and side section 10 are placed on pallet 8 and the top and bottom strap members 72 and 74 on the ends of these sections aligned for insertion of bolts 76 through the strap members. After end section l4 and side section l0 are hingedly connected by bolts 76, these sections are positioned on the pallet and will remain in an upright position with their studs 44 and 62 abutting the outside edges of the pallet. The workman can in similar fashion position end section 16 and connect it to side section l0. Subsequently, side section l2 can be connected to one end section and kept parallel to that end section, if the pallet bin is to be loaded horizontally, or side section l2 can be connected to both end sections 14 and 16 if the container formed by the pallet and bin is to be vertically loaded by, for example, dropping articles into the bin.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details shown and described, but departures may be made from such details without departing from the principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages.

[claim:

1. A collapsible pallet bin comprising:

A. A pair of side sections and a pair of end sections with each of said sections including:

a. a substantially rectangular panel;

b. a substantially rectangular frame secured to the outer surface of said panel, the length of said frame being slightly smaller than the length of said panel to provide hinge areas at each end of said panels, the height of said frame being substantially the height of said panel; with the ends of said frame being offset in a downward direction to provide notches at the upper corners of said frame and downwardly projecting studs at the lower corners of said frame; and

B. Hinge means positioned at each of said hinge areas for releasably connecting said side sections and said end sections ofthe assembled pallet bin.

2. The pallet bin of claim l in which said hinge means includes a first strap mem ber mounted on a hinge area of one of said side panels and a second strap member mounted on a hinge area of one of said end panels, and a removable bolt which permits disassembly of said pallet bin by disengagement ofthe bolt from the strap members.

3. The pallet bin of claim l in which each of said end sections includes an internal cleat attached at the lower end of the inside face of said panel of said end section, with the bottorn surface of said internal cleat being positioned in the plane of the bottom of said panel, and extending substantially the len th of said end section.

. A collapsible pallet bin comprising: a pair of side sections, and a pair of end sections, each of said sections includmg:

A. A substantially rectangular panel;

B. A pair of side cleats and a top and bottom cleat secured to the outer surface of said panel to form a substantially rectangular frame, the length of said top and bottom cleats being slightly smaller than the length of said panel to provide a hinge area at each end ofsaid panel, said side cleats extending from an elevation below the top of said panel to an elevation below the bottom of said panel to form notches at the upper corners of said frame and downwardly projecting studs at the lower corners of said frame; and

C. Hinge means mounted on each of said hinge areas for releasably connecting said side sections and said end sections.

5. The pallet bin of claim 4 in which said hinge means includes a hinge assembly comprising a first strap member mounted on a hinge area of one of said side panels and a second strap member mounted on a hinge area of one of said end panels, and a removable bolt which permits disassembly of said pallet bin by disengagement of the bolt from the strap members.

6. The invention of claim 5 including two vertically spaced hinge assemblies positioned at each corner of the assembled pallet bin.

7. The invention of claim 4 in which each end section includes an internal cleat attached at the lower end of the inside face ofsaid panel of said end section, said internal cleat having its bottom surface positioned in the plane of the bottom surface of said panel and extending substantially the length of said end section.

8. A multilayer collapsible pallet bin comprising:

A. A first layer and a second layer, with each layer including a pair of side sections and a pair of end sections, each of said sections including:

a. a substantially rectangular panel; and

b. a substantially rectangular frame secured to the outer surface of said panel, the length of said frame being slightly smaller than the length of said panel to provide hinge areas at each end of said panels, the height of said frame being substantially the height of said panel, with the ends of said frame being offset in a downward direction to provide notches at the upper corners of said frame and downwardly projecting studs at the lower corners of said frame, and with the studs of the side and end sections of said second layer seated in the notches of the side and end sections, respectively, of said first layer to interlock said first and second layers', and

B. Hinge means positioned at each of said hinge areas for releasably connecting said side sections and said end sections ofthe assembled pallet bin.

9. The invention of claim 8 in which said studs have a tapered inside edge surface to facilitate seating of said studs in said notches.

l0. The pallet bin of claim 8 in which each of said frames includes a pair of side cleats and a top and a bottom cleat secured to the outer surface of said panel to form a substantially rectangular frame, the length of said top and bottom cleats being slightly smaller than the length of said panel to provide a hinge area at each end of said panel, said side cleats extending from an elevation below the top of said panel to an elevation below the bottom of said panel to form notches at the upper corners of said frame and downwardly projecting studs at the lower corners of said frame. 

